Guide bar mechanism for warp knitting machines



H. c. NOE 2,737,034

GUIDE BAR MECHANISM FOR WAR? KNITTING MACHINES March 6, 1956 2sheets-sheet 1 NNN E Filed Jan. 14, 1953 March .6, 1956 H. c. NOE2,737,034

GUIDE BAR MECHANISM FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES Filed Jan. 14, 19532Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Harold C. Noe

ATTORNEY United States Patent O GUIDE BAR MECHANISM FOR WARP KNITTINGMACHINES Harold C. Noe, Upper Montclair, N. J., assignor to KiddeManufacturing Co., Inc., Bloomfield, N. J., a corporation of DelawareApplication January 14, 1953, Serial No. 331,127

9 Claims. (Cl. 66-86) The present invention relates to warp knittingmachines and the like, and, more particularly, to mechanism associatedwith the guide bar assembly of such machines.

Generally, the guide bar assembly of warp knitting machines is slidablysupported by hangers on the guide bar rock shaft, and each guide bar hasa rod or stud at one end thereof which is engaged by a pusher pad of theguide bar pattern control mechanism for moving the guide bar lengthwisein one direction. The guide bar element is urged against the pusher padand the guide bar is, moved in the opposite direction by a strong springadapted to exert force of about 50 to 100 pounds.

In the operation of such machines, the guide bars are rocked andtraversed to lap the yarn on the needles whereby the guide bar pusherrods slide across the face of the pusher pads in an arcuate path whileurged against the pads by the strong springs. In so rocking the guidebar pusher rods, the4 force applied to overcome the friction forceresisting sliding movement must be of a considerable magnitude. Sincethis force is applied through some structure connected to the guide barsremotely located with respect to the pusher rods, there is a tendency totwist and/ or deflect the guide bars, whereby the yarn guides are movedout of their proper positions in relation to the needles during theknitting cycle and faulty knitting results as a consequence thereof.

The foregoing gives rise to a serious problem in connection withknitting machines operated at high speeds where it is desirable, if notimperative, that the mass of guide bar assembly be maintained at aminimum. Consequently, any attempt to reinforce the guide bars along thelength thereof or to construct the guide bars more ruggedly increasestheir mass and defeats one of the prime requisites for high speedoperation. Also, these forces, when exerted on the guide bars at highspeeds may result in failure of the guide bars or permanent distortionof the guide bars and/or the yarn guides, whereby replacement of partsor repair thereof becomes quite frequent and the down time of themachine becomes greater with the result that the overall eiciency of themachine is greatly decreased.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide guide barmechanism for warp knitting machines and the like which is not subjectto the foregoing diculties and disadvantages.

Another object is to provide such mechanism which does not materiallyincrease the mass of the guide bar elements operated by the guide barrock shaft and thus is particularly adapted for machines operating athigh speeds.

Another object is to provide such mechanism which prevents deflection ofthe guide bars in a reliable and practical manner.

Another object is to provide such mechanism which can be easily appliedto either newly constructed or existing machines of various types.

kA further object is to provide such mechanism which is simple andeconomical in construction and cany readily 2,737,034 Patented Mar. 6,1956 withstand such rough usage to which it may be subjected. Other andfurther objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understandingof the illustrative embodi-Y ment about to be described, or will beindicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred toherein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employ-V upper end forsecuring the same to the rock shaft, and` having a transverse rib at itslower end for adjustably mounting the bearings. The return springs areadapted to extend through the opening of the frame.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, andv is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of a warp knittingmachine embodying the present invention, illustrating the same as viewedfrom the front of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 on Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsectional view taken along the line'3--3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an end view illustrating a spring mounting bracket.

Referring to the drawings in detail, there isV shown a portion of a warpknitting machine including an upright end frame 10, a guide bar rockshaft 11 having one end portion extending through an opening 12 in theframe 10, guide bar hangers 14 (only one partially shown) on the rockshaft for slidably supporting a guide bar assembly 15', guide bar pushermechanism 16 for moving the guide bar lengthwise, and a return springassembly 17 for the guide bar.

The guide bar'assembly 15 comprises two or more guide bars 19 (only oneshown), yarn guides 20 attached to each guide bar, and a post 21 at thepusher end of each guide bar for mounting a pin 22 and a horizontallydisposed pusher rod or stud 24.

The pusher mechanism 16 comprises a horizontal pusher bar slide block 25mounted on the end frame 10 in the usual manner, pusher bars 26 (onlyone shown butV corresponding in number to the guide bars) adapted to bemoved lengthwise with respect to the slide block by conventionalpatterning mechanism, and a pusher pad or plate 27 on each pusher barhaving a face 28 for engaging the free end of one of the pusher rods 24.

The return spring assembly 17 comprises a bracket 29 (Fig. 4) mounted onthe end portion of the rock shaft 11, hooks 30 (only one shown, butcorresponding in number to the guide bars), and strong tension springs31 having one end connected to one of the guide bar assembly pins 22 andhaving the other end connected to one of the hooks 30 whereby the pusherrods 24 are urged against their pads 27. As shown in Fig. l, the pusherrods and the springs extend through an opening 32 in the end frame 10.

While the elements of the guide bar assembly 15, the pusher mechanism 16and the return spring assembly 17 have been illustrated singularly andonly the endmost j hanger 14 is shown for sake of clearness andsimplicity,

3v more completely disclosed which is of the general type the presentinvention aims t improve.

In order to prevent deection of the guide bars as contemplated by thepresent invention, structure for slidably receiving the pusher rods 24and for preventing twisting thereof is provided between the posts 21 andthe pusher pads 27. As shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, thisstructure comprises a rigid frame-like bracket 34 having a clamp 35 atits upper end for rigidly securing the same same to the rock shaft formovement therewith and having a transverse rib 36 at the lower endthereof provided with bearing means for receiving the pusher rods 24.This frame is provided with an opening 37 through which the springs 31extend (Fig. 2).

The clamp 3S as shown herein, is constructed in a manner to facilitateits attachment to and removal from the rock' shaft without disturbingthe rock shaft journals or other structure carried by the rock shaft,thus demonstrating that the improvement in accordance with the presentinvention can be readily applied to existing niachines in the field.

In order to permit adjustment of the guide bars on the hangers forvarious knitting operations, the bearing means are in the form of anumber of movable elongate plate-like members 39 having an aperture forreceiving a bearing bushing 40 and having a slot 41. These members areremovably and adjustably secured to the frame 34 by a clamping plate 42and bolt 44 threaded into apertures of the rib and extending throughapertures 46 in the clamping plate and through the slots' 41. Thisarrangement enables the bolts 44 to be loosened while setting up theknitting elements including the guide bars, whereby the bearing members39 are moved into their position of adjustment and are maintained insuch position upon tightening the bolts.

While the present invention has been illustrated by way of example inconnection with a raschel knitting machine, it will be understood thatit can also be applied to other types of warp knitting machines toprevent guide bar deection.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides a novel and practical arrangement for supporting theguide bars at the pusher end to prevent twisting forces from deectingthe same. This is accomplished in a simple and economical manner withoutunduly increasing the mass operated by the rock shaft. The pusher rodbearing holder frame is compact in arrangement and can be installed oneither new or existing machines without redesigning or altering theknitting machine construction.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

l. In a knitting machine of the class described, the combination of aguide bar rock shaft, a guide bar slidably supported on said rock shaft,a pusher rod at one end of said guide bar, pusher means for engagingsaid pusher rod to move said bar lengthwise, a rigid bracket mounted onsaid rock shaft for movement therewith having an opening therethroughand having bearing means for slidably receiving said pusher rod, asecond bracket mounted on said rock shaft for movement therewith, and aspring for urging the free end of said pusher rod against said pushermeans, said spring having one end connected to said second bracket andhaving the other end connected to said guide bar and extending throughthe opening of said first bracket.

2. In a knitting machine according to claim l,y wherein a-plurality ofguide bars are provided each having a pusher rod engaged by said pushermeans and slidably received by said bearing means, and a plurality ofsprings are pro` vided each having one end connected to one of saidguide bars and having the other end connectedv to said secondbracket andextending through the opening of said first bracket.

3. In a knitting machine of the class described, the combination of aguide bar rock shaft, a plurality of guide bars, hangers on said rockshaft for slidably supporting said guide bars, a pusher rod at one endof each of said guide bars, pusher means for moving said guide barslengthwise including pusher pads each for engaging the free end of oneof said pusher rods, a spring having one end connected to each of saidguide bars adjacentv its pusher rod for urging said pusher rods againsttheir pusher pads, and a rigid structure mounted on said rock shaft formovement therewith having bearing apertures therein each for slidablyreceiving one of said pusher rods.

4. A knitting machine according in claim 3, wherein said rigid structureis a frame-like bracket having an opening therethrough.

5. A knitting machine according to claim 4, wherein a second bracket ismounted on said rock shaft for movement therewith, and said springsextend through the opening of said frame-like bracket and have theirother end connected to said second bracket.

6. In a knitting machine of the class described, the combination of aguide bar rock shaft, a guide bar, hangers on said rock shaft forslidably supporting said guide bar,l a pusher rod at one end of saidguide bar, pusher means for moving said guide bar lengthwise including apusher pad for engaging the free end of said pusher rod, a rigidframe-like bracket mounted on said rock shaft for movement therewithhaving an opening therethrough and having a bearing for slidablyreceiving said pusher rod, a second bracket mounted on said rock shaftfor movement therewith, and a spring for urging the free end of saidpusher rod against said pusher pad, said spring having one end connectedto said second bracketand having the other end connected to said guidebar and extending through the opening of said lirst bracket.

7. In a knitting machine of the class described, the combination of aside frame having an opening therethrough, a guide bar rock shaft havingone end portion extending through said opening and outwardly beyond saidframe, a guide bar having a pusher rod at the end adjacent said framehaving said opening, hangers on said rock shaft for slidably supportingsaid guide bar, pusher means for moving said guide bar lengthwiseincluding an element for engaging the end of said guide bar pusher rod,a bracket mounted on said rock shaft for movement therewith between saidpusher means and said guide bar, said bracket having on openingtherethrough and having bearing means through which said pusher rodextends, a second bracket mounted on said end portion of said rock shaftfor movement therewith, and a spring for urging said guide bar pusherrod against said element, said spring having one end connected to saidsecond bracket and having the other end connected to said guide bar andextending through said side frame and said first bracket openings.

8. In a knitting machine of the class described, the combination of aframe having an opening therethrough, a guide bar rock shaft having oneend portion extending through said opening and outwardly beyond saidframe, a plurality of closely adjacent guide bars each having a pusherrod at the end adjacent said frame opening, hangers nnsaid rock shaftfor slidably supporting said guide bars, pusher means for moving saidguide bar lengthwise including elements for engaging said guide barpusher rods, a bracket mounted on said rock shaft for movement therewithbetween said pusher means and said guide bar, said bracket having anopening therethrough and having a plurality of closely adjacent bearingsthrough which said pusher rods extend, a second bracket mounted on saidend portion of said rock shaft for movement therewith, and a spring foreach guide bar adapted to urge said guide bar pusher rod against saidelements, said springs each having one end connected to said secondbracket and having the outer end connected to its guide bar, saidsprings extending through said side frame and said rst bracket openings.

9. Mechanism for preventing the deection of theV guide bars of aknitting machine of the class described including guide bars each havinga pusher rod thereon and a guide bar rock shaft, which mechanismcomprises a rigid frame-like bracket having a clamp at the upper endthereof for rigidly securing the same to the guide bar 6 rock shaft ofthe machine and having a transverse rib at the lower end thereof, aplurality of members each having a bearing for slidably receiving apusher rod of a guide bar, and means for adjustably securing saidmembers to said rib.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSSchonfeld et al. Dec. 29, 1942 Noe July 18, 1950

